Order Flowers

Ordering flowers from our site ensures that your order will reach us or the family in a timely manner, and your gesture of support will remain acknowledged in the Book of Memories for future generations. We only work with local florists so we can maintain the sense of urgency and quality of your selections. We thank you for helping to support the family during their time of need, and will fondly remember your kind gesture.

A Death Has Occured

Who to Call First

Whether you received a 2 a.m. phone call with news of an unexpected death or shared your loved one's final moments of a long illness, your initial reaction to the death was likely shock. It doesn't seem to matter how prepared we are - or aren't - a loved one's death often leaves us feeling numb and bewildered. If you're responsible for making the funeral arrangements or executing the will, shock and grief can be immobilizing. Even simple decisions can be overwhelming.

Making the first phone calls

What to do first depends on the circumstances of the death. When someone dies in a rural hospital or similar care facility, the staff will usually take care of contacting the funeral home. When someone dies in a city hospital, it is the responsibility of the family to contact us. You will also need to notify family and friends. It may be easier on you to make a few phone calls to other relatives or friends and ask each of them to make a phone call or two to specific people, so the burden of spreading the news isn't all on you. If you are alone, ask someone to keep you company while you make these calls and try to cope with the first hours after the death.

Call a Funeral Director

Whatever the circumstances of death, one of your first calls should be to a licenced funeral director. We are here to help you:

transport the body, obtain a death certificate, select a casket, urn and/or grave marker, arrange the funeral, memorial and/or burial service, prepare the obituary, and offer grief support or direct you to other resources.

Call the Employer

If your loved one was working, you'll need to call his or her employer. Ask about the deceased's benefits and any pay due, including vacation or sick time, disability income, etc. Ask if you or other dependents are still eligible for benefit coverage through the company. Ask whether there is a life insurance policy through the employer, who the beneficiary is and how to file a claim.

Call the Life Insurance Company

Look through the deceased's paperwork for life insurance policies. Call the agent or the company and ask how to file a claim. Usually the beneficiary (or the beneficiary's guardian, if a minor) must complete the claim forms and related paperwork. You'll need to submit a Funeral Director's Declaration and a claimant's statement to establish proof of claim. Remember to ask about payment options. You may have a choice between receiving a lump sum or the having the insurance company place the money in an interest-bearing account from which you can write checks.